Duke and Duchess leave Hollywood royalty in shade

William and Kate outshone the stars of Tinsel Town who came out in support of British creative talent on Saturday night.

Some of the biggest names working in Los Angeles, from Tom Hanks to Barbra Streisand, were received by the world’s most famous newlyweds.

The royal couple have become the toast of California after jetting into America on Friday for a whirlwind three-day visit, which comes after a successful tour of Canada.

Jennifer Lopez, Jack Black and James Gandolfini were also among the guests at the reception and black-tie banquet held at the 1920s art deco Belasco Theatre in central LA.

British celebrities were represented by Stephen Fry, Cat Deeley and Gordon Ramsay.

But the loudest screams on the night from the hundreds waiting against crash barriers outside the theatre came when the Duke and Duchess arrived.

Kate looked stunning in a lavender coloured dress by Alexander McQueen and a pair of Jimmy Choo shoes.

The world famous actors who would normally draw large crowds in their own right appeared to be excited at the prospect of meeting the royals.

Before a reception in the theatre’s ballroom, Duncan Kenworthy, the Academy’s vice-president and one of Britain’s leading producers, told the celebrities and other guests in the room to “be cool” and not to rush at the royals when they came in, but the couple proved a big draw.

Moulin Rouge star Nicole Kidman summed up the mood towards the Duke and Duchess when she said: “I think they are lovely. I just got off the phone to my mum and she said ‘I’m so glad you’re going, you’re Australian’ – they just make you smile.”

William is president of Bafta – the British Academy of Film and Television Arts – and the organisation hosted the evening to highlight the range and depth of British talent in film, television and video games.

Forty-two emerging Britons were selected to attend the event to introduce them to the “movers and shakers” in Hollywood.

When the Duke and Duchess walked into the theatre’s main auditorium, 27 tables were lavishly decorated in front of them.

The first and only one they stopped at was one where Hanks, Fry and Gandolfini were sitting.

Kate chatted at length to the Sopranos star, as did William.